That is how local lad Luke Hyam has described his first goal for his boyhood club after the midfielder played a starring role in Ipswich’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last night.

Hyam, and fellow midfield powerhouse Guirane N’Daw, both opened their account for Town who moved out of the bottom three following an excellent performance against the promotion contenders.

N’Daw gave the Blues a deserved first-half lead and though Dexter Blackstock equalised, Hyam’s big moment came just two minutes later when he crashed home a rebound after DJ Campbell’s penalty was saved.

Sub Daryl Murphy sealed the precious three points – and stretched Town’s unbeaten home run to three games – in injury-time to leave the dressing room, and fans alike, buzzing.

None more so than academy graduate Hyam, in for the injured Nigel Reo-Coker, who produced a man-of-the-match performance to pay back the continued support he receives from the terraces.

The 21-year-old former Northgate High School pupil said: “I used to watch Ipswich from the Britannia Stand (now the Co-op Stand) so to score my first goal at Portman Road in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand is a dream come true.

“It was an incredible moment – my family and friends were in the stands – and you could tell by my celebrations that I lost my head a little bit.

“I would also like to thank the fans who have given me such great support. It means everything to me and I just want to repay their faith.”

McCarthy has now overseen a decent points tally of 10 points from a possible 18 with hopes high that a corner has been turned.

Hyam, who hobbled off in the second half with a calf injury, added: “It is a vital three points but I thought it was one of our best performances of the season – everyone worked so hard.

“We are all in this together. The lads are buzzing about getting out of the bottom three but we have to push on now.”

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MAny of us on here have been calling for Luke to be in the team, and when he is, he does not let anyone down.Dave Gooderham, you said to me on the webchat, that a relegation struggle is no place for youngsters. Well, as he was Man of the Match, scroed a vital goal, and is modest and mature beyond his years off the pitch, is it not time to revisit that view?
He should stay in the team, and as I said previously, I would make him captain, and build my team around him, as his example would be as good as any other type of captaincy at present. Well done Luke, absolutely brilliant.

Agree wholeheartedly with kevin bailey , it should be noted that the vast majority of our better performances over the past couple of years have come with luke in the team , i hope mccarthy dosnt do a jewel and drop him in favour of reo coker

Perhaps someone can tell me when Luke Hyam plays,how many times has he been on a winning team,under Keane and Jewell ?I would think the percentage is quite high,don't understand why is doesn't play more.

First time I have watched Ipswich, and Championship football for some time. I have been a fan since 13 by the way, 23 now. I couldn't believe what I watching at times, especially in the first half. N'Daw, I have never seen a player quite like it. I dont think he can even run and I counted nine attemped first time hoof balls over the top with one not coming off. Maybe I have been watching Barcelona play too much, but even Forest were doing it as well. Not one player attempts to play it short or attempt a five yard pass, always hit down the channels.
I was so impressed by Luke Hyam who looked composed and the ball and actually wanted to play football the proper way. Tommy Smith was a beast at the back as well and what an earth has happened to Carlos Edwards pace?
It was a great result considering Forest have so many good, former PL players in the squad and am eternally grateful for their howlers.

He was the difference, brought about a tenacity all over the park and in his team-mates. His career had been stunted from PJ but we all know if he pushes on again now, we have a future England international here. I am sure he would already be knocking on the door if he had made 100 appearances, which he easily could and should have. As much as some can criticise RK I think he saw himself in Luke, I'm sure RK would have given him more starts.
That tackle last night on the half-way line with such bite to win ball back shortly after Forest quick free-kick was awesome, truly Keane-esque!!!!!. Hendo commanded box excellently, Ndaw was class and TS brought bite to back 4 and Murph was a tank when introduced. The goals may have been presents but it shows what hard work and harassing opponents can do. In our position the result is all that matters , the skill can come later.

If McCarthy hadn't have made the mistake of dropping an in-form Hyam for a moaning loanee just trying (and failing) to get himself match fit, we might have kept the score below 5 on our recent travels.

So now do we have an player to build the future around? It appears we could have.... and just think what a team we would have had if we had kept hold of Connor Wickham, Jordan Rhodes and the other young academy players that had become the mark of Ipswich Town Football Club. Still we now may have a season to look forward to?

The key of course is injuries to pointless signings like Reo-Coker. Depressingly it has taken injuries to remove the blinkers from Mick the Man - who was (and presumably still is) committed to play 'experience' (football speak for transient mercenaries) instead of talented young players. Will the blinkers slip back on when Reo-Coker is fit again?Will the revolving door bring in a job lot of Wolves rejects in January? Hyam (and the eight other Ipswich players who would quite like a game for Ipswich) should know not to hold his breath just yet.